A society is measured by how well they secure their future via their youth. We all want to see our children learn all that they need to be successful long term.
However, one of the things that we do is clearly not in the interest of our high school students. We ask them to get up so early to be in class that they cannot get enough sleep. This practice causes:
- Adverse Health effects
- Adverse effects on a high school student academic performance
- Causes irritability and in more extreme cases anxiety and depression
- Makes them more likely to engage in risky behavior like fighting, smoking, drinking or drug use.
- Makes them more likely to get into accidents
Teens have a biological predisposition to being a night owl (I know I did) and they obviously must sleep later to offset that predisposition. However, school start times (my daughters get on the schoolbus at 6:30 AM) do not allow them the luxury of following their circadian rhythms. Fighting nature has predictable consequences.
Since this issue has bipartisan support, let’s pull together to solve the problem.
It is as simple as shifting school start times later for teenagers.
For more on this issue and to learn about ways that you might help see Start School Later
Just my opinion. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
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The Sapiens Society 